Case packer



June 6, 1944.

W. D. KIMBALL CASE PACKER Filed Oct. 19, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Wzucf 0. lf/MB/ILL Amds 4/ ATTORNEYS June 6, 1944.

W. D. KIMBALL CASE PACKER Filed Oct. 19, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALL ACE D- lf/A IBALL- 4 5 Y ATTORNEYS June 6, 1944.

w. D. KIMBALL CASE PACKERV Filed 001;. 19, 1940 7 Sheefs-Sheet 4 INVENTOR W/ILZA CE 0. K/MB/MZ ATTORN EYS June 1944- w. D. KIMBALL 2,350,560

CASE PACKER INVENTOR Mama- DJf/MBA ZL H/s ATTORNEYS June 6, 1944. w. D. KIMBALL GAS E PACKER Filed Oct. 19, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR MM 04 c5 0. Kmauzz BY fa/aw ,4 H 5 ATTORNEYS June 6, 1944. w. D. KIMBALL I CASE PACKER 7 Sheeizs-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 19, 1940 INVENTOR h Azzflc alf/MeAzz BY M, W,

/-//5 ATTORNEYS .the 08.88.

Patented June 6, 1944 CASE PACKER Wallace D. Kimball, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignor to Standard-Knapp Corporation, Portland, Conn, a corporation of New York Application October 19, 1940, Serial No. 361,905

23 Claims.

This invention relates to machines of the class usually referred to as case packing machines in which a charge of articles such as cans or bottles or square or rectangular packages is segregated from a supply of such articles and enclosed withma packing or shipping case, such, for example, as the customary corrugated board or fibreboard shipping cartons, the bottoms and tops of which are closed by flaps extending from the body of Certain types of round containers which are desirable because of their low cost have been found dimcult to handle in the ordinary case packing machines where the containers are rolled on their sides in forming the charge to be packed, because the label, which is placed on the container by a printing or lithographing process, is easily marred by such contact of the containers one with another as may v occur in rolling, or because the containers are provided with a head at one end only, which interferes with their rolling in a straight line. The object of the present invention is to provide a packing machine for packing such articles in shipping cases.

With containers such as the can, just referred of Fig. 1;

to on the surface of which the label is lithographed by the can manufacturer, it is desirable, in order to protect the labels, to ship the empty cans in shipping cases to the can user, such, for example, as a beverage manufacturer. It has been found convenient for the empty cans to be placed in the same shipping cases in which the cans, after being filled, are to be shipped by the beverage manufacturer to the point of consumption, and another object of the present invention is to provide a case packing machine which will facilitate the operation of such plan by encasing the cans in a shipping case with the bottom flaps thereof closed but unsealed and with the top flaps untouched, that is to say, Without being folded in any way. Such cases filled with empty cans may then be passed through a case gluer and sealing machine which closes the top flaps only, and the cases are shipped in this condition to the user. It is then only necessary for him to remove the cans through the unsealed bottoms of the cases and, after filling, repack the cans in the same cases using, for example, a drop type case packer of the kind set forth in the application of Wallace D. Kimball and Cornelius I. Braren, Ser. No. 177,883, filed December 3, 1937.

The invention will be understood from a consideration'of the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example one embodiment of Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the trip members and electrical switches actuated thereby at the end of each row on the charge forming table and the guides for the case flaps;

Figs. 6-10, inclusive, are views of the chargeforming table and various parts thereof. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the can guides lowered to permit the charge and case to slide to the right. This view is also indicatedby line 1-1 in Figs. Sand 9. Fig. 8 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1 but with the machine opened, that is, with the charge-forming table and case flap guides separated from each other and from the supply feed table to permit the case to be placed over the charge, and also with the can guides lowered as in Fig. 7 in which line 8-8 indicates the plane on which Fig. 8 is taken. Figs. 9 and 10 are complementary plan views of the charge-forming table carriage with certain parts omitted from each figure to better illustrate the construction;

Fig. 11 is a. vertical section taken on line ll--l I of Fig. 2 with a case added at the position showing the inner bottom flaps in process of being closed; I

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on line |2--l2 of Fig. 2 with a case added at this position showing the inner flaps completely closed and the outer flaps still open. A case in this position is also shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 13 and 14 are sectional views at right angles to each other showing the outer bottom flaps in process of being folded towards closed position. Fig. 13 is taken on line l3-l3 of Fig. 2 with a case added at this position and is also indicated by line l 3-l3 in Fig. 14, while Fig. 14 is indicated by line l 4-! 4 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a diagram of electrical connections.

In the apparatus of the present invention the charge to be packed is separated from the supply, and the case is placed over the charm: has

vanced continuously along the supply table indicated generally by numeral I toward the right as viewed in Fig. l, by means of a belt conveyor 2. The articles are maintained in alinement in parallel rows. (four rows in the machine illusmatically causing the charge-forming table 8 and stop fingers 9 to shift back from the open position shown in Fig. 8 to the original or closed position of Fig. 1.

Upon completion of the movement of the case to the right to position C2, the case is then moved at right angles along a support l3, as shown in Fig. 2, and during this second movement the outer or side flaps l2 are folded upwardly against the inner or end flaps Hi. In other words, the case is first moved sidewise folding the bottom I imier or end flaps to closed position and than trated) by means of guiding devices or plates 3 which are suspended by. vertical rods 4 above the supply table. These rods are arranged at suitable intervals along the supply table (only one side being shown) and each set is adjustably fixed to a cross rod 5 which is supported in suitable brackets 6 on each side of the machine. The supporting rods 4 and guide plates 3 are made laterally adjustable so that the machine shall accommodate articles of different diameter or width. The cross rod 5 is adjustable vertically in brackets 6 so as to enable the lower edges of the guide plates 3 to be adjusted sufficiently close to the surface of conveyor belt 2 to cause the plates to engage the beads of the cansrather than the can body. It will be observed that each can is provided with a single bead at the bottom. In this way the greater part of the guiding of the cans is done through marring of the surface of the can body is avoided.

Before proceeding further with the detailed description of the apparatus, the general operation of the same will be indicated. The cans on the supply table i are moved over a scuff plate 1 onto a charge-forming table indicated generally these beads, and theby reference numeral 8 and the foremost can of each row is stopped by combined stop and switch-actuating levers 9 which are mounted independently of the charge-forming table. As

.soon as a complete charge has been received upon table 8, this table and the stop fingers f9 are shifted to the right, as shown in Fig: 8, in such a way as to separate the charge-forming tablefrom the can supply table I and also to separate the can forming table so as to enable a case,,as indicated at C1 in dotted lines in Fig. 8, to be dropped or placed over the charge of cans on the table.

As shown in Fig. 8, it is apparent that the inner or end flaps ID of the case extend downwardly at the bottom of the case below the surface of the table, while the outer or side flaps ll (Fig. 7) are swung outwardly at right angles to the body of the case. case are. in the machine as illustrated, left standing upright and are still in this position when the case is discharged from the machine. It will be understood, however, that if desired these top flaps may be folded to closed position and sealed before the case is placed on the charge of cans on the charge-forming table 8.

After the case has been placed over the charge in the position C1 on the charge-forming table, the combined charge and case are moved to-the right, as viewed in Figs. 2 and. 3 and the present machine contemplates that this shifting of the case be done by theoperator of the machine. During this movementthe lower inner or end flaps H! are folded upwardly, as indicated by case position C2 in Fig. 11, into contact with the bottom of the charge of containers. as shown at case position C3 in Figs. 12 and 13, and as this movement is completed, provision is made for autostop levers 9 from the charge- The top flaps I 2 of the' the case is moved endwise causing the bottom side or outer flaps to be folded to closed position. The case is thus delivered from the machine with its bottom flaps closed but unsealed and with its top fiaps projecting upwardly and not folded.

The descriptionof the detailed construction of the machine will now be continued. Referring again to Fig: 1, the machine is driven by a motor (not shown) which is operatively connectedto drive the input shaft ll of a reduction gearing i5. On the output shaft l6 of this mechanism are a sprocket and a pulley. An endless chain i1 cooperates with this sprocket to drive a shaft I8 upon which is keyed a supporting pulley IQ for one end of the conveyor belt 2.

By means of the ulley just mentioned a V- belt 20 is caused to mpart rotation to the driving member 2| (Figs. 1 and 3) of a one-revolution clutch indicated generally by reference numeral 22. Driving member 2| rotates loosely on a shaft 23 which extends crosswise between the main side frame member 24 of the machine and is journalled therein. Both the conveyor belt 2 and the driving member 2i of the one-revolution clutch rotate continuously.

The one-revolution clutch 22 is of a usual construction' and includes besides the continuously rotating driving member 2| an intermittently rotated driven member 25. This driven-member has two arms, one of which carries a dog 26 pivoted thereto at its outer end and the other of which coacts with a backlash preventing lever 2! shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This lever is pivoted at i8- and spring biased so that the outer end of the lever will fall behind this arm of the driven member 25 and prevent it from rebounding whenever the one-revolution clutch mechanism'is thrown out to stop the rotation of shaft 23 to which the driven member 25 of the onerevolution clutch is keyed.

Whenever it is desired to cause the rotation of shaft 23, dog 25 is caused to engage one of the notches in driven member 2!. The dog is biased in this direction by a spring. The control of this dog controls the operation of the clutch.

For controlling dog 26 a roller 29 is provided on the end of pivoted lever 36, this roller engaging the tail of dog 26 when it is desired to throw out the one-revolution clutch. Roller 29 is swungthe tail of dog 26 which thereupon is forced by its spring into one of the notches of driven member 2 I. If the solenoid is promptly de-energized.

roller 29 will return into the path of dog 26 and upon the completion of a single revolution of shaft 23 the dog will be withdrawn and rotation stopped.

'The one-revolution clutch 22 is provided to 8 and also to' control a set of parting or gate fingers 34 which hold back the containers on supply table I while the machine is shifted to this open position.

The charge-forming table 8 is supported upon the upper ends of 'four upwardly extending arms divided into two pairs 35 and 36. These arms extend upwardly from two parallel horizontal shafts 31 and 38, arms 35 being fixed to shaft 31 and arms 36 being fixed to shaft 38. These two pairs of arms are tied together at the top by the charge-forming carriage structure which will be described in detail later on by which the two pairs of arms are maintained parallel so that they operate as a parallelogram system when the charge-forming table is shifted from the closed position of Fig. l to the open position of Fig. 8, and vice 'versa. I

This shifting is effected by means of an arm 39 which is also fixed to shaft 31 and carries at its outer end a cam follower roller 40 which cooperates with a cam 4|.

Cam 4| is fixed upon a shaft 42 which is parallel with shaft 23 carrying the one-revolution clutch 22 and which is driven from shaft 23 by means of a two-to-one gearing 43-44 so that cam shaft 42 makes one-half a revolution for each complete revolution of shaft 23. The roller 40 is held against cam 4| and the charge-forming table 8 biased toward the open position in Fig. 8

by means of a pair of helical springs 45 shown in.

Figs. 1 and 3.

The stop levers 9 arranged at the end of each row of cans on the charge-forming table are mounted upon a pivoted frame 46 which has two side arms pinned to a cross shaft 41 which is parallel to and arranged at about the same elevation as shafts 31 and 38. Frame 46 is shifted from the closed position of Fig. l to the open position of Fig. 8 by the rocking of shaft 41 and this is done by means of a short arm 48 keyed to shaft 41 and a long arm 49 fixed to shaft 31. These two arms are connected by a suitable link 50 preferably adjustable so as to enable the frame 45 to be adjusted relative to charge-forming table ll. Since the extent of movement of frame 46 is twice that of table 8, arm 49 is double the length of arm 48.

The stop fingers 34 are vertically movable into the path of the cans on the supply table i as may be seen, for example. in Figs. 4 and 8. Like the guiding plates 3, these stop fingers also engage the beads of the cans. Fingers 34 comprise a series of spaced upright posts which are mounted upon a vertically shiftable cross bar wh ch is mounted upon the upper ends of two vertical rods 52 which are pivoted at their lower ends to a pair of levers 53 which are pinned in spaced relation upon a cross shaft 54 mounted above and parallel to shaft 42. The cross bar 5| which carries the fingers 34 is provided at each end with a ro ler 55 which operates in a vertical guideway 56. The fingers are biased upwardly by a pair of helical springs 51 connected at their upper ends to the side frame members and at theirlower ends to cross arm which is secured to the vertical rods 52.

These stop fingers 34 are shifted into and out of-can-stopping position by means of a second cam 59 on shaft 42 which actuates a roller 60 -on the end of an arm 6| which is pinned to shaft It will be understood that the actuation of one-revolution clutch 22 causing a single complete rotation of shaft 23 causes shaft 42 and cams-4| and 69 to rotate through one-half a revolution, or and this, therefore, would cause the machine to shift from the closed position of Fig. 1 to the open position of Fig. 8. That is to say, this causes, first of all, the stop fingers 34 to be elevatedinto can-stopping position, and shortly thereafter the charge-forming table I and frame 46 carrying the stop fingers 9 are shifted to the right so as to separate the charge of cans on the table 8 from those on the supply table I.

In order to effect this'operation of themerevolution clutch 22, the controlling solenoid 3| must be energized and again de-energized before the complete revolution of the clutch driven member 25 is completed. This is accomplished by four electrical switches 6| (Fig. 5) which are actuated by the can-stop levers 5. As shown in the wiring diagram (Fig. 15) these switches are connected in series and receive current from the supply conductors 62 through a conductor '63. The circuit from switches 6| is completed through conductors 64 and 65 to solenoid 3| and from the solenoid through conductor 66 to the opposite supply conductor. This circuit is closed and solenoid 3| energized as soon as all four of switches 6| are closed and the rotation of shaft 42 immediately commences.

As soon as the frame 46 carrying the stop levers 9 and switches 6| is shifted to the open position as shown in Fig. 8, and in dotted lines in Fig. l. switches 6| are again opened and the circuit through solenoid 3| broken. From the shape of cam 4| (Fig. 1) it is apparent that this takes place very shortly after the commencement of rotation of shaft 42 so that the solenoid is energized only for an instant, and roller 29. after releasing the tail of dog 26 is immediately returned to'the path of this dog so as'to stop the rotation of shaft 23 and 42 as soon as a single complete rotation of shaft 23 is accomplished.

For actuation by stop'levers 9. switches 6| are frame 46. The limitin stop in the opposite direction for levers 9 comprises a pair of nuts ll threaded on the outer end of a small rod immediately below screw 69 which is attached to the stop lever 9 and. projects through an aperture in bracket 16., A helical spring is carried on this rod to bias the stop lever towards the left as shown in Fig. 8.

In order to facilitate the placing of the case over the cans on the charge-forming table 8. a series of spaced flap guides 12 are mounted in fixed position on the rocking frame 46 and are arranged alternately with the' switch levers 9. These guides prevent the edges of one of the bottom inner or end.fiaps Hi from striking the upper ends of switch levers 9 and they also serve to startthe inward folding Of this fiap. For this purpose they are bent inwardly at their lower portions as shown, for example, in Fig. 8. The opposite bottom end or inner flap I8 is similarly guided and preventedfrom becoming engaged with the tops of the cans on the supply table and with other parts ofthe machine by means of two guide plates, an upper guide plate I8 and a, lower guide plate I4 which forms an apron in front of the gate mechanism and gives the initial inward foldtothisl'flapr As shown in Figs. 2 and 8. the guides I2 are supported by brackets (to which the guides are welded) which are adjustably mounted on the cross member of rocking frame 48.

The can-supporting table 8 comprises a plurality of flat metal plates I8, one for each row of cans received from the several lanes on the supply table I, and these plates I8 are supported upon a carriage previously referred to and which will be presently described. In both the closed and open positions of the machine, the plates I8 are maintained at substantially the same elevation at the level of the scuff plate 1 of' the can supply table I. At this same level there is mounted a stationary table upon which the case rests when it is first placed over the charge of cans on the charge-forming table 8, as shown in Fig. 7, and which supports the charge and case as they are moved to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, during the closing of the bottom inner or end flaps. I

In order to maintain the cans on the chargeforming table 8 in alinement in parallel rows as they move onto the table, a series of spaced parallel guides l8 operating upon the beads of the cans are provided. These guides are arranged in alinement with the guide plates 3 of supply table I and are arranged to be verticall movable from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7 below the surface of plates I8 of the charge-forming table 8 and below the surface of table".

ilarly journalled at 92 in arms 38. Fixed at the opposite ends of rock shaft 89 are, respectively, arm 83 and arm 88, and fixed similarly to rock shaft 88 are arms 95 and 86. These four arms project in a generally horizontal. direction as shown in Fig. 8. The can guide carriage is supported on the outer ends of these four arms, one of ,the square bars 81 being pivoted at its ends to arms 93 and 94 and the other bar 81 being pivoted to arms 95- and 98. In order to cause rock shafts 89 and 98 to work together to maintain the can guides I8 horizontal as they are raised I and lowered, the rock shafts are joined by a con- The charge-forming table plates I8 are supported upon a table'carrlage illustrated in Fig. 10 and indicated generally by numeral I8, whereas the vertically movable guides I8 are supported upon a guide carriage illustrated in Fig. 9 and indicated generally by numeral 88.

Both the table carriage I9 and the guide carriage 88 are supported upon the enlarged upper ends of the two pairs of parallelogram arms 85 and 88 shown in Fig. 8. The table carriage comprises a frame consisting of two parallel square bars 8I which arejoined together by two rectangular bars 82 at right angles. Bars 82 are secured in fixed position to the under side of bars 8I. by pins 83. Bars 8| are reduced at their ends to form pivots and one of these bars is pivoted at to the upper end of vertical rock arms 85 while the other bar 8I is pivoted at 85 in the upper ends of the second pair of rock arms 88. The table plates I8 of the charge-forming table 8 are secured adjacent each end to the square bars 8I by means of suitable spacing blocks 88. v

The can guide carriage 88 illustrated in Fig. 9

comprises a pair of spaced parallel square bars.

81 of somewhat smaller cross section than bars 88 and joined together by a series of angle members 88. The can guides I8- are fixed to these angle members 88.

In order to arrange the guide carriage 88 for a vertical shifting movement with respect to the charge-forming table plates 18, a pair of rock shafts 88 and 88 are provided. Rock shaft 88 is journalled near its ends in apertures 8| in the upper ends of arms 35, while rock shaft 88 is simnectingrod 91 which is pivoted at its opposite ends to two. generally vertical arms 98 and 98 which are fixed to the right hand ends of the rock arms 89 and 98 as viewed in Fig. 9 immediately below and preferably formed integral with the carriage supporting arms 94 and 96.

The can guides 18 are caused to drop below the surface of table TI and'table plates I8 by the movement of the case over or surrounding the charge of cans, that is to say, as the case moves into the position C1 shown in Figs. 8 and 7. For this reason a latch mechanism is provided which is adapted to be tripped by one of the flaps I8 0! the case. This latch mechanism comprises a trigger member I88 which is engaged by the flap I8 and moved downwardly, thus rotating its supporting shaft-I8I against the bias of a spring I82. This trigger shaft IN is mounted for rotation between -'the bars 82 of the table carriage I9 and on this same shaft there is fixed a latch member I83 which, when biased to the right as viewed in Fig. 8 by a spring I82, is in position to engage the lower left hand corner of squared bar 81 and thus maintain the can guide carriage 88 in its elevated position as shown in Figs. 6 and 1. In the latter figure, the latch I83 is shown in dotted lines holding the bar 81 in its uppermost position.

The can guide carriage 88 is returned to its uppermost position during the return movement of the charge-forming table 8 from its open position of Fig. 8 to its closed position of Fig 1. This is effected by means of a resetting lever I88 which is secured to the left hand end of rock shaft 98 as viewed in Figs. 6, 7 and 9. This resetting lever, on the return movement of the charge-forming carriage 8, engages a stop pin I which is mounted on the side of a bracket I88 secured to one of the side frames 24.

As the operator places the case in position C1 over the charge of cans on the table 8, the trigger I88 is engaged by one of the flaps I8, causing the can guides I8 to drop below the surface of the table plate I8 and table II and the operator then pushes the case and its contents to the right as viewed in Fig. 2, sliding the same over the surface of table II. In doing so, the can passes between two guide bars I81, one on each end of the case, which center the case lengthwise with respect to table II.

In order to fold the flaps I8 to closed position,

. folding bars I88 are provided which are secured as shown in Fig. 3 to the underside of support I3.

These bars both converge toward one another as shown in Fig. 2. and are curved upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 from a horizontal position to substantially the surface of table 11- and support I8.

In order to permit the flaps I8 to be folded to closed position as the case moves over and onto support I8, the sides of table 11 are narrowed to conform to the angular position of the flap-foldingbars I88 as shown in Fig. 2. The flaps which are initially turned inwardly-by the flap guides' 12 are engaged by the left hand ends of the folders I08 and gradually swung about their hinges to closed position in contact with the bottoms of the containers within the case as the case moves along table 11. I

When the case reaches the end of the movement toward the right, which is position C3, its movement is stopped by a guide bar I09 which, is secured to the machine at right angles to guide bars I01. It'is desirable to return the machine to the closed position shown in Fig. 1, for another charge of cans and again open the machine to the position of Fig. 8 while the operator is completing the movement of the case along support l3, and obtaining and squaring up another case for the next charge of containers. Accordingly, a switch III is mounted on guide bar I09 and provided with an actuating lever ill pivoted at 2 and biased outwardly by a spring 3 which is adapted to be moved to the right by the case as it reaches the position C3.

Switch llfl establishes a circuit from, one of the supply conductors 62 (Fig. 15) through conductor H4, conductor H5, conductor 65, solenoid 3i and conductor 66 to the supply. This switch is an automatic opening delayed action switch which when closed by the movement of lever III will remain closed only for a predetermined, short length of time and then opens automatically even though lever ll may still be forced to the right by the presence of the case. Switch H is so adjusted as to maintain the circuit through solenoid 3| not substantially longer than is necessary for the tail of dog 260i the one-revolution clutch 22 to move past the withdrawn roller 29. This causes the shaft 23 to make a second revolution which rotates cams 4| and 59 through their second 180 of movement and returns them to their original position shown in Fig. 1 whereby the gate flngers II are lowered, the chargeforming table 8 moved into position adjacent the supply table I, and the frame 46 carrying the stop levers 9 and flap guides I2 into position close to the outer end of the charge-forming table.

The case and its contents having been moved to position C3, the operator then moves it at right angles to the guides Hi1 and along the support I 8. During this movement the case is guided and centered on the support by the guide bar I09 and by a second guide bar Son the opposite side. For the purpose of closing the bottom outer or side flaps II, a second pair of flap folders, preferably in the form of the warped surfaces 1, is provided. These warped surface members I are secured to a cross frame member 8 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 13. The support 13 is tapered at its end to form a tongue I I9 adjacent the flap folders H1 in order to permit .the flaps II to be folded into contact with the inner flaps Hi, the inner margins of the outer flaps passing onto a central supporting plate I20 located between the outer ends of folders I H so as to give support to the case at the center.

It will be understood that when this machine is to be used by a can manufacturer for. packing the empty cans in the cases in which the beverage manufacturer, for example, is to ship the filled cans, the can manufacturer packs the cans upside down in the cases., That is to say, the cases are placed over the charge-forming table 8 in upside down position, the flaps which are to form the bottom of the case being at the top. Then as the case is passed through the machine of the present invention, the flaps which are to form the top of the case are the ones which, are closed by this machine, the case The cases from this machine are then delivered directly to what is known as a top 'gluer and sealing machine .which glues, closes and seals these upright flaps at the top of the upside down case. The cases are then shipped to the beverage manufacturer who after filling the containers, again packs them in the cases, this time right side up, and seals the top flaps of the casesgonly, the cases being then in condition for shipment to the consumer.

It will be understood that in the exemplifying disclosure of the present invention hereinbefore made, changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of this invention being indicated in the appended claims.

It will be further understood that the term can or cans as used in the appended claims is intended to include not only metallic or fiber containers, round or square, but also bottles and square or rectangular packages and articles generally.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a supply table, guiding devices for directing cans in a plurality of parallel lines thereon, a chargeforming table adjacent thereto, meansfor ad- 'vancing cans from the supply table onto the charge-forming table, and guides for the cans on -said table in alinement with said guiding devices and movable below the surface of said table to permit the. cans to move laterally off said table.

2. In a machine of. the class described, a can supply, a charge-forming table operative to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to allow a case to be placed over the charge, guides for the cans on said table movable to recede below the surface thereof, and means actuated by the case as it is placed over the charge to cause said guides to recede so as .to permit the charge and case to be moved laterally from said table.

3. In a machine of the class described, a can supply, a charge-forming table shiftable from closed position adjacent the supply wherein to receive a charge of cans from the supply to open position separated from the supply so as to allow a case to be placed over the charge, means for shifting said table alternately from the closed to the open position, guides for the cans on said table movable to recede below the surface thereof, means actuated by the case as it is placed over the charge to cause said guides to recede so as to permit the charge and case to be moved laterally from said table, and means operable during movement from open to closed position for resetting the can guides in their guiding position.

4. In a machine of the class described, a can supply, a charge-forming table operative to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to allow a case to be placed over the charge, said table having slots therein, and guides movable to project through said slots above the surface of the table to'guide the cans thereon and to recede below the surface of the table to permit the charge of cans to be removed from the table by a transverse sliding movement.

" means for advancing cans 5. In a machine of the class described. a can supply, a charge-forming table operative to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to allow a case to be placed over the charge, said table havingslots therein, a carriage below the table, can guides fixed to the carriage, and means for shifting the carriage upwardly to cause the guides to project above the surface of the table and downwardly to cause them to recede below the surface thereof so as to permit the charge of cans to be removed by a transverse sliding movement.

6. In a machine of the class described, a can supply, a charge-forming table operative to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to allow a case to be placed over the charge, said table having longitudinal slots therein, a vertically shiftable carriage arranged below the 1 table, guides on said carriage adapted to project through the table slots, latching mechanism for holding the carriage in an upper position with the guides projecting above the surface of the table to guide the cans thereon, said latching mechanism being adapted to be tripped by contact with the case when the case is placed over the cans so as to cause the carriage to descend and carry the guides below the surface of the table, and means for resetting saidcarriage.

'7. In a machine of the class described, a supply table, a charge-forming table adjacent thereto, from the supp table onto the charge-forming table, shiftable stopping means for stopping the cans on the charge-forming table when a full charge has been received thereon, means for shifting the charge-forming table away from the supply table and said stopmovable therewith for similarly directing posite flap.

, vancing cans from rality of vble, and means the charge-forming table shifting means and the from the charge-forming table to be placed over the cans on associated with the supply table for directing a flap of the case as it is placed over the charge, and guide means associated with the shiftable stopping means and the D- ping means away to permit a case said table, guide means 8. In a machine of the 'class described, a supply table, guiding devices for directing cans in a plurality of parallel lines thereon, a chargeforming table adjacent thereto, means for adthe supply table onto the charge-forming table, gate means ,fOr arresting the advance of the cans on the supply table, means for shifting the charge-forming table away from the supply table to permit a case to be placed over the cans on the charge-forming table, and means for actuating the gate means and the charge-forming table shifting means in timed relation.

9. In a machine of the class described, a supply table, guidingdevices for directing cans in a plu parallel lines thereon, a charge-forming table adjacent thereto, means for advancing cans from the supply table onto the charge-forming table, shiftable stopping means for stopping the cans on the charge-forming table when said table has received a full charge of cans from the supply table, gate means for arresting the advance of the cans on the supply table, means for shifting the charge-forming table away from the supply table and said stopping means away from the chargeqforming table to permit a case to be placed over the cans on the charge-forming tafor actuating the gate means and can-stopping means in timed relation.

' supply table, a charge-forming table operstive toaliowa case to be placed 10. In a machine of the class described, a can supply table, a charge-forming table, means for advancing cans from the supply. table onto the charge-forming table, can stopping means for stopping the cans on the charge-forming table when a charge has been received thereon, gate means for arresting the advance or the cans on the supply table, machine opening and closing mechanism for causing said charge-forming table and can stopping means to shift away from each other and away from said supply table to open the machine and to close the machine by the opposite movement of said parts, and means actuated-by the can stopping means for controlling said mechanism to open the machine.

11. In a machine of the class described. a canopen position to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to allow a case to be placed over the charge and to closed position to receive a successive charge of cans from the supply, mechanism for operating the charge-forming table to the open and closed positions, and means actuated by the cans on the charge-forming table for controlling said mechanism to operate the table to open position.

12. Ina machine of the class described, a canupply table, a charge-forming table operative to open position to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to allow a case to be placed over the charge and to closed position to receive a successive charge of cans from the supply, a stationary table adjacent the charge-forming table for receiving therefrom the charge of cans with the case thereover, mechanism for operating the charge-forming table to the open and closed positions, means actuated by the cans on the chargeforming table for controlling said mechanism to operate the table to open position, and means actuated by the case after leaving the chargeforming table for controlling said mechanism to return the charge-forming table to closed position.

13. In a machine of the class described, a can supply, a charge-forming table operative to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to over the charge with the inner flaps at the bottom thereof extending downwardly below the bottoms of said cans, charge-supporting and flap-folding means to receive the case and charge from the chargeforming table and adapted to fold said flaps closed as the charge and case are moved thereover, a support adjacent said means to receive the case with the charge resting upon the closed inner flaps thereof, and means associated with said support for folding the outer flaps at the bottom of the case to closed position against said iriner flaps.

14. In a machine of the class described, an inner flap-folding table adapted to receive a charge of cans within a case having unfolded bottom flaps means to fold the inner bottom flaps against the bottomof the charge as the charge and case are moved over said table, an outer flap-folding table at right angles to the inner flap-folding table to receive the case and charge therefrom, and means when the case and charge are moved along the same to fold the outer bottom flaps against the inner bottom flaps.

15. In a machine of the class described, an inner flap-folding table adapted to receive a charge of cans within a case having unfolded bottom flaps means to fold the inner bottom flaps against the bottom of the charge as the charge and case are moved over said table, an outer flap-folding table at right angles to the inner flap-folding table to receive the case and charge therefrom, means when the case and Charge are moved along the same to fold the outer bottom flaps against the inner bottom flaps, and means for simultaneously stopping the movement of the case over the inner flap-folding table and centering it on the outer flap folding table.

16. In a machine of the class described, a can supply table, a charge-forming table operative to open position to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to allow a case to be placed over the charge and to closed position to receive a successive charge of cans from the supply, mechanism for operating the charge-forming table to the open and closed positions, means actuated by the cans on the charge-forming table for controlling said mechanism to operate the table to open position, an inner flap-folding table adjacent the charge-forming table for receiving therefrom the charge of cans with the case thereover, meansto fold the inner bottom flaps of the case against the bottom of the charge as the charge and case are moved over said table, an outer flap-folding table at right angles to the inner flap-folding table to receive the case and charge therefrom, means when the case and charge are moved along the same to fold the outer bottom flaps against the inner bottom flaps, a stop for arresting the movement of the case along the inner flap-folding table, and a device' associated with said stopfor controlling said mechanism to return the charge-forming table to closed position.

17. In a machine of the class described, an innerflap folding table adapted to receive a charge of cans within a case having unfolded inner and outer flaps, means to fold the inner flaps to closed position as the charge and cans are moved over said table, an outer-flap folding table at right angles to the inner-flap. folding table to receive the case and charge therefrom, means when the charge and case are moved along the same to fold the outer flaps against the inner flaps.

18. In a machine of 'the class described, an inner-flap folding table adapted to receive a charge of cans within a. case having unfolded. inner and outer flaps, means to fold the inner flaps to closed position as the charge and cans are moved oversaid table, an outer-flap folding table at right angles to the imier-flap folding table to receive the case and charge therefrom, means when the charge and case are moved along the same to fold the outer flaps against the inner flaps, and means for simultaneously stopping the forward movement of the case as it is moved along the inner flap-folding table and centering it on the outer-flap folding table.

19. In a machine of the class described, a can supply, a charge-forming table operative to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to allow a case to be moved downwardly over the charge, and means for closing the case flaps about the charge.

20. In a machine of the class described, a can supply conveyor, a charge-segregating device cooperating therewith, means for periodically operating the charge-segregating device to segregate from the supply a charge of cans to be packed, means for supporting a squared-out case blank in vertical position surrounding the segregated charge, and means for folding the case flaps to closed position about the charge.

21. In a machine of the class described, an inner flap-folding table adapted to receive a charge of cans within a case having its inner and outer flaps at one end unfolded, means to fold said inner flaps against the bottom of the charge as the charge and case are moved over said table, and

an outer flap-folding table at right angles to the inner flap-folding table to receive the case and charge therefrom, and means to fold said outer flaps against said inner flaps when the case and charge are moved along the same.

22. In a machine of the class described a can supply table, a charge-forming table operative to open position to separate a charge of cans from the supply so as to allow a case to be placed over the charge and to closed position to receive a successive charge of cans from the supply,

mechanism for operating the charge-forming table to open and closed position, means actuated by the cans on the charge-forming table for controlling said mechanism to operate the table, to open position, a table for receiving from the charge-forming table the charge of cans with the case thereover, and means actuated by the cans as they move on said receiving table for controlling said'mechanism to return the chargeforming table to closed position.

23. In a machine of the class described, a can supply table, a charge-forming table associated therewith and having cooperating therewith a stop device for cans received thereon from the supply table, mechanism to move the charge forming table to open position with respect to the supply table to separate .a charge of cans from the supply and to open said stop device with respect to the charge-forming table'thereby to allow a case to be placed over the charge, and

means actuated by the cans on the charge-forming table for controlling said mechanism to operate the table to open position.

. WALLACE D. KIMBALL. 

